By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A defensive battle broke loose in the Tennessee Tech soccer team's bout with Belmont, but the Golden Eagles were unable to scratch a goal across in a 1-0 loss to the Bruins.
TTU's narrow defeat is the first 1-0 final the Golden Eagles (3-5-4, 1-1-2 OVC) have played all year.
Tech edged Belmont (3-7-2, 2-3-0 OVC) in the shot department with a 9-8 advantage, highlighted by a 5-2 discrepancy in the second stanza. Kendall Powell and Nora Vicsek combined for five of TTU's nine shots, paced by Powell's three attempts. The Cookeville product was also responsible for the club's two shots on-goal.
Belmont's Sydney Cason led the match with four shots, securing one on-point. The Bruins found the back of the net thanks to a Niki Clements strike in the 50th minute. The 5-foot-3 senior was set up for the score thanks to a pair of passes by Mackenzie Firek and Kameron Ziesig, who both collected assists on the play.
Isabelle Austin registered four saves, while Lily Herman notched a clean sheet with two stops between the pipes.
17 different Golden Eagles appeared in the match. Austin, Rachel Blow, Macy Carter, Kaitie Shipley and Bailey Taylor all went the distance.
The Golden Eagles will conclude a weekend chock full of in-state action with a Sunday, Oct. 6 contest against Austin Peay at Tech Soccer Field. The get-together with the Govs is slated for 6 p.m. CT. The match will serve as TTU's annual Senior Day, with a special pre-match ceremony honoring the careers of Rachel Blow, Tina Marolt, Kaitie Shipley and Nora Vicsek scheduled shortly before first kick.
Photo by Thomas Corhern